Second choice for 'red'

This photo was my second choice for April's Theme Day of RED. This ring-necked dove is a frequent visitor to my very good friend's window sill. She puts out some grain and he or she comes right over.

They're coming......

It's been so nice recently that I took a trip down to the village to see my little traveling buddy, Radovan, who has traveled with me to Greece, the US, and India. He was all excited to show me this little 'lizard,' as he called it, that he found in his yard. He also complained that all his chickens are missing....

When I took this photo, I saw something that Radovan hadn't seen, so I whisked him off to Belgrade, leaving the baby 'lizard' to its mother. Radovan and I are off to Poland the day after tomorrow, where we will be visiting a friend of mine and we will try to buy him some more chickens.

Now I know why there are signs all over Belgrade advertising Walking with Dinosaurs, which I am going to see on April 9th at the Belgrade Arena.

I think I'll be seeing more of 'mama' and her baby.

Theme Day -RED- and April Fool!

The news is in! Serbia has forsaken its national hat, the Šajkača, for the sombrero! (Okay, April Fool!)

Now, today, aside from being April Fool's Day, is also Theme Day, and it's RED! The fellow in the photo was on his way to Belgrade's Sports Arena to see The Davis Cup, that was held there from March 5th to 7th.

See if anybody else will fool you or else just see RED right here:
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

ABC WEDNESDAY -'K' is for 'kooky'

Spring is here and the weather is warmer, on and off, anyway. This photo was taken on an 'on' day, along the Sava River, where I happened upon this fisherman. I've always wanted to wear a hat like this....and this fellow had the nerve. A very practical and 'kooky' solution to sun protection.

See what others have done with the letter K by checking out ABC WEDNESDAY.

Happy Birthday, Vincent van Gogh...

...and to the little boy on the right, who shares a birthday with him! This is my 3rd grade English as an Additional Language class (the 3rd grade is bigger; these are just the kids who come to me.) Their current theme unit is on 'expression,' and what better way than to learn about van Gogh, who expressed himself so well through his paintings? I invited a stand-in for Vincent, who would have been 147 today. The little doll is part of a series called Little Thinkers that you can read about by clicking on that link. They're fun gifts...and Vincent has a removable ear...

From a doorway

Waiting for the bus in Zemun, as seen through the grillwork on a door.

Tow, tow, tow your car....

Don't park where you're not supposed to. I am actually pleased that Belgrade is stepping up with removal and ticketing of illegally parked cars. It's quite costly though, for the thoughtless driver. Having your car released can cost around 12,000 dinars or about $150.00, which is quite a chunk out of someone's local salary. The fellow on the left is having his car written up, but he may get out of paying a towing fee, unlike the unfortunate Audi's owner, who is nowhere in sight.

That empty feeling...

The streets below Branko's Bridge were once quite attractive, and I hope their allure will be restored. I was pleasantly surprised to see this 'empty' building; only the facade remains. In other cities in Europe, it's a fairly common practice to restore/renovate old buildings inside and keep the facade. Here, that's usually not so, but it looks like someone has that intention for this old building.

SKYWATCH--Fingernail Moon

A hand-held shot, hence the blur. When the moon is like this, just a sliver, I call it a 'fingernail' moon, and wonder if anyone else does.

See other moons, slivers, fingernails, and skies at SKYWATCH.

Life at the top

Time to 'fess up. Who hasn't dreamed of living in a penthouse, surrounded by famous names?
Whoever lives in this rooftop apartment in a building adjacent to Branko's Bridge has quite a few famous names for neighbors. At least they're quiet.

ABC Wednesday 'J' is for 'Jagged'

While walking in Zemun (ZAY-moon), a nearby municipality of Belgrade, I came upon this old door with several glass panes. Actually, there had been several glass panes, but the others were completely gone, and all that remained of this one was some jagged, very old glass. I liked shapes and textures, so I took a photo for you to see, too.

Today is also the 11th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Serbia, which I showed you last year. Many windows were shattered at that time.

See other J's on ABC WEDNESDAY.